Young calf dehorner

ABSTRACT

A device for dehorning young calves in the form of a tubular member having a tapered inner surface defining a sharp edge. The tubular member includes a bar stock handle which enables the dehorner to be heated by placing it in a fire and then used to dehorn small calves by simultaneously removing the horn and cauterizing the ends of blood vessels and the surface area from which the removed portion was cut out.

United States Patent 191 Young [451 Aug. 13, 1974 1/1952 Mims 128/3031 3,561,449 2/1971 Bellantoni 128/305 Primary Examiner1.ucie H. Laudenslager Attorney, Agent, or FirmClarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson ABSTRACT A device for dehorning young calves in the form of a tubular member having a tapered inner surface defining a sharp edge. The tubular member includes a bar stock handle which enables the dehorner to be heated by placing it in a tire and then used to dehorn small calves by simultaneously removing the horn and cauterizing the ends of blood vessels and the surface area from which the removed portion was cut out.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures YOUNG CALF DEHORNER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION clude cutting the button type horn out which frequently causes severe bleeding while other procedures employ only the use of heat which requires a substantial amount of heat. Other procedures presently employed utilize an acid or chemical material that eats away the horns over a period of several hours. Present procedures frequently result in the calves losing weight because they stop eating and in some instances infection occurs and horns grow back.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a dehorning device for young calves in the form of a tubular member having an inner tapering surface at its outer end to form a sharp cutting edge with the entire dehorner being heated on an open fire or in a burner in the same manner as a branding iron with the operator selecting a particular size of dehorner to appropriately fit the button type horns with the heated cutting edge being placed over the horn, twisted and with inward pressure, the horn is cut out and at the same time, the ends of the blood vessels are cauterized.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dehorner for young calves in accordance with the preceding object which results in horns not growing back again and which is less painful and leaves a very smooth scar with the wound not bleeding or draining with the calves not losing weight due to not feeding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The dehorner of the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral 10 and includes a tubular member 12 of metal such as iron and may be in the form of a pipe member having an elongated bar stock handle 14 rigidly connected to one end thereof so that the handle 14 extends axially from the tubular member 12 with it being noted that the handle 14 is of substantially less cross-sectional area as compared with the tubular member 12 to facilitate manipulation of the dehorner. The external diameter of the tubular member 12 is substantially continuous from end to end and the internal diameter of the tubular member 12 is continuous and constant for a portion of its length but the inner surface of the tubular member 12 is provided with an elongated beveled surface 16 which provides a shallow tapering surface which joins with the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member 12 and forms a sharpened cutting edge 18.

In use, the device is placed in an open fire or burner in the same manner as a branding iron thus eliminating the necessity of any special equipment with the dehorners being provided in various sizes, as illustrated in FIG. 2, for use with different size horns inasmuch as the dehorner should be just sufficient to freely receive the horn but not excessively large so that the wound formed when dehorning will be as small as possible and yet the horn button will be completely removed to prevent regrowth.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the ivention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A device for removing small button type horns from young calves to prevent regrowth and simultaneously cauterize the ends of blood vessels to reduce bleeding and infection, said device comprising a rigid, cylindrical tubular member of thick walled metal construction and having a substantially constant external diameter throughout its length, an elongated rigid bar stock handle rigidly connected to one end of said tubular member and extending axially therefrom, said handle having a cross-sectional dimension substantially less than the diameter of the tubular member to facilitate handling of the device when the tubular member is being heated by placement in a fire and to facilitate manipulation thereof when dehorning, the end of the tubular member remote from the handle having the inner surface thereof beveled for a substantial portion of the length thereof thereby providing a shallow tapering inner surface which defines a sharp cutting edge at its juncture with the external surface of the tubular member to form a straight cylindrical cut peripherally of the button type horn when inward axial pressure is exerted on the tubular member, said tubular member being dimensioned internally to closely but freely receive the projecting portion of a button type horn and to enable removal thereof while simultaneously cauterizing the surfaces of the cut out area peripherally of the inner end portion of the button type horn. 

1. A device for removing small button type horns from young calves to prevent regrowth and simultaneously cauterize the ends of blood vessels to reduce bleeding and infection, said device comprising a rigid, cylindrical tubular member of thick walled metal construction and having a substantially constant external diameter throughout its length, an elongated rigid bar stock handle rigidly connected to one end of said tubular member and extending axially therefrom, said handle having a cross-sectional dimension substantially less than the diameter of the tubular member to facilitate handling of the device when the tubular member is being heated by placement in a fire and to facilitate manipulation thereof when dehorning, the end of the tubular member remote from the handle having the inner surface thereof beveled for a substantial portion of the length thereof thereby providing a shallow tapering inner surface which defines a sharp cutting edge at its juncture with the external surface of the tubular member to form a straight cylindrical cut peripherally of the button type horn when inward axial pressure is exerted on the tubular member, said tubular member being dimensioned internally to closely but freely receive the projecting portion of a button type horn and to enable removal thereof while simultaneously cauterizing the surfaces of the cut out area peripherally of the inner end portion of the button type horn. 